“When we do these really long rides I think about how many people are sitting in a chair getting chemotherapy or are hearing the news they have stage four,” she said. “I also have 3 people in my immediate family that I ride for.”

Those family members include a grandfather who smoked for decades, a grandmother who died from cancer, and Catherine’s Grandma Linda, who has battled for 20 years.

“Seeing her for the past 20 years be a warrior and champion and always have a smile on her face and not miss out on graduations or birthdays, it makes me realize the fight that she's had, and that I too can do something,” said Butschi.

Some stops along the route include cities with higher-than-average cancer death rates, where Butschi and her teammates will share information on cancer prevention and care.

“It's a collective fight,” she said. “No one can find a cure for cancer on their own.”

The team has an aggregate fundraising goal of $850,000, which includes Butschi’s personal goal of more than $2 for every mile she rides. Click here to visit her online donation page.